English translation: alter-thingeys / alter-whatnots (see explanation)
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French to English translations [Non-PRO] Art/Literary - Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc.
French term or phrase:alter-choses
This is in the first chapter of a book proposing a new way of looking at business and economics. The chapter concludes with:
"Voilà pourquoi [la proposition] n’est pas destiné aux doux rêveurs, bien-pensant et autres ** alter-choses **, mais à toutes celles et ceux qui veulent construire un environnement prospère"
I can think of several expressions in English that would make sense here, but I haven't a clue what the French implies. I've trawled the web without much luck.
Is it something like "gainsayers" ? "fringe elements" ? ...?
And to pre-empt predictable comments, yes I know the best solution is to ask the client to elaborate, but that's a cop-out. We all need to exercise our faculties if not for fun then at least to delay brain atrophy! :-)
Many thanks as always!
Explanation: Just to set you down the right road ..; the reference is to altermondialiste on which you will find a reasonable corpus of discussion if you run a TermSearch (top RH corner).
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 38 mins (2011-01-13 16:53:21 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altermondialisme
Alter-globalization (also known as alternative globalization, alter-mundialization — from the French "altermondialisme" — or the global justice movement) is the name of a social movement that supports global cooperation and interaction, but which opposes the negative effects of economic globalization, feeling that it often works to the detriment of, or does not adequately promote, human values such as environmental and climate protection, economic justice, labor protection, protection of indigenous cultures and human rights. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alter-globalization
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 43 mins (2011-01-13 16:57:56 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Alter in this sense is (or was) counterintuitive to me until I latched on to Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter ( http://barsukmusic.blaireau.net/jessesykes/ ) which is defined (amongst other things) as an "alt rock" or "alt country" band. I suppose "alt" might be a contraction of "alternative", but it's an easy jump to make from there to "alter".
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 49 mins (2011-01-13 17:04:32 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
In her later albums Jesse sings with a Marianne-Faithful-soundalike lithp which she didn't have in earlier work. Maybe she changed denture glue.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 58 mins (2011-01-13 17:12:55 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
The term was coined against accusations of nationalism by neoliberal proponents of globalization, meaning a support of both humanism and universal values but a rejection of the Washington consensus and similar neoliberal policies. The "alter-globalization" French movement was thus opposed to the "Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe" on the grounds that it only advanced neoliberalism and an Anglo-Saxon economic model.
Originally developed in French as altermondialisme, it has been borrowed into English in the form of altermondialism or altermondialization. It defines the stance of movements opposed to a neoliberal globalization, but favorable to a globalization respectful of human rights, the environment, national sovereignty, and cultural diversity.
Following the French usage of the word altermondialist, the English counterpart alter-globalist may have been coined.
The term alter-globalization is derived from the term anti-globalization, which journalists and others have used to describe the movement. Many French journalists, in particular, have since ceased using the term anti-globalization in favor of alter-globalization. It is supposed to distinguish proponents of alter-globalization from different "anti-globalization" activists (those who are against any kind of globalization: nationalists, protectionists, communitarians, etc.). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alter-globalization (again)
Thanks Bourth - It's something I wouldn't have thought of myself. Although I'm still waiting for the client to confirm, this makes perfect sense in the context. 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
Thanks Verginia, that's helpful.
My initial thougth was "armchair critics" but Bourth put me onto another likely train of thought... So I'm still searching. However, I have till the end of the month to finish the book so am hoping for a Damascan revelation before then :-)
Thanks, I see what you're saying and on the whole agree with you. The book seems to be intended for a broadly educated audience, possibly something like the readership of the New Scientist or hoping to be reviewed by the Economist or Time magazine (not that the two are comparable). What I'm trying to say is that it boils down to what will make sense for the audience and there is a lot more popular-cum-academic discussion in France about this topic than in the UK or certainly N.Am. (where there has been virtually none). I'll stop rambling and say I'm still searching for a tight phrase...
is that there are more "alter-" thingeys than just "world order advocates", or at least that is what the author is suggesting. Would not educated readers be familiar with the "alter-(globalization/mondialization)" concept, especially in the context.
Aha - Thanks Bourth, valuable clue, I think you've hit the nail on the head... I'm wondering though what equivalent tight phrase in English would convey the same denotation/connotation for an 'Anglo-Saxon' reader.
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Answers
36 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +1
alter-thingeys
Explanation: Just to set you down the right road ..; the reference is to altermondialiste on which you will find a reasonable corpus of discussion if you run a TermSearch (top RH corner).
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 38 mins (2011-01-13 16:53:21 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altermondialisme
Alter-globalization (also known as alternative globalization, alter-mundialization — from the French "altermondialisme" — or the global justice movement) is the name of a social movement that supports global cooperation and interaction, but which opposes the negative effects of economic globalization, feeling that it often works to the detriment of, or does not adequately promote, human values such as environmental and climate protection, economic justice, labor protection, protection of indigenous cultures and human rights. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alter-globalization
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 43 mins (2011-01-13 16:57:56 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Alter in this sense is (or was) counterintuitive to me until I latched on to Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter ( http://barsukmusic.blaireau.net/jessesykes/ ) which is defined (amongst other things) as an "alt rock" or "alt country" band. I suppose "alt" might be a contraction of "alternative", but it's an easy jump to make from there to "alter".
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 49 mins (2011-01-13 17:04:32 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
In her later albums Jesse sings with a Marianne-Faithful-soundalike lithp which she didn't have in earlier work. Maybe she changed denture glue.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 58 mins (2011-01-13 17:12:55 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
The term was coined against accusations of nationalism by neoliberal proponents of globalization, meaning a support of both humanism and universal values but a rejection of the Washington consensus and similar neoliberal policies. The "alter-globalization" French movement was thus opposed to the "Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe" on the grounds that it only advanced neoliberalism and an Anglo-Saxon economic model.
Originally developed in French as altermondialisme, it has been borrowed into English in the form of altermondialism or altermondialization. It defines the stance of movements opposed to a neoliberal globalization, but favorable to a globalization respectful of human rights, the environment, national sovereignty, and cultural diversity.
Following the French usage of the word altermondialist, the English counterpart alter-globalist may have been coined.
The term alter-globalization is derived from the term anti-globalization, which journalists and others have used to describe the movement. Many French journalists, in particular, have since ceased using the term anti-globalization in favor of alter-globalization. It is supposed to distinguish proponents of alter-globalization from different "anti-globalization" activists (those who are against any kind of globalization: nationalists, protectionists, communitarians, etc.). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alter-globalization (again)
xxxBourth Local time: 21:01 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 42
Grading comment
Thanks Bourth - It's something I wouldn't have thought of myself. Although I'm still waiting for the client to confirm, this makes perfect sense in the context.
Explanation: That's why [the proposal] is not for dreamers, well-meaners and other "things of esoteric nature" but to all those who want to build a prosperous environment "
Example sentence(s):
This work compares conscious thought and unconscious thought in relation to quality of choice
The translation workplace 
